Talakaveri
Encyclopedia
Talacauvery is the place that is generally considered to be the source of the Cauvery River. It is located in the Brahmagiri hill (not to be confused with the Brahmagiri range
further South) near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka
, 1,276 m. above sea level. However, there is not a permanent visible flow from this place to the main rivercourse except during the rainy season.
A tank or kundike has been erected on a hillside, at the place that is said to be the origin. It is also marked by a small temple, and the area is frequented by pilgrims. The Kaveri River
originates as a spring feeding this tank, which is considered to be a holy place to bathe on special days. The waters are then said to flow underground to emerge as the river some distance away. The temple has been renovated extensively by the state government recently[2007].
On Tulasankramana day (the first day of Tula Masa month, according to the Hindu calendar
, which normally falls in mid October) thousands of pilgrims flock to the river's birthplace to witness the rise of the fountainhead, when water gushes up from the spring at a predetermined moment. The tula snanam (Sacred bath in the Tula month) is observed across pilgrim towns in Kaveri's banks.
Talacauvery is about 8 km away from Bhagamandala
and 48 km from Madikeri.
Agasthya
and Maha Ganapathi.
The legend goes that, the Cauvery river was held in a Kamandalu
(a container of sacred water) by Sage Agasthya. Vinaayaka (Lord Ganesha) took the form of a crow and perched on the kamandalu of Agasthya when Agasthya was meditating. When Agasthya realised this, he shooed away the crow. But the Divine Crow tipped the kamandalu and toppled it. Out poured Cauvery which started flowing. The crow disappeared and in its place stood a small boy. Agasthya thought that the boy was playing some prank and clenching both his fists, went to pound the head of the small boy. But the boy escaped and Agasthya gave chase. Finally the boy vanished and Lord Ganesha showed Himself to Agasthya. Agasthya was aghast at the realisation that he had just tried to knock the head of Ganesha Himself. As atonement, he knocked his own head with both of his clenched fists.
The link between Kaveri and Ganesha also extends to Srirangam
as well, in Lord Ganesha's role in setting up the Ranganatha temple there. The temple at Tirumukkudal Narasipura (confluence of Kabini (aka Kapila river, Kaveri and invisible Spatika Sarovara (Crystal Lake)) is also dedicated to Lord Agastheeswara.
in Bareilly district
.
The Brahmins who first landed in Shivalli in Tulunadu and then spread across 31 villages came to be known as Shivalli Brahmins or Tulu Brahmins. It is from Shivalli and Tulu Brahmins, that the priests of Talacauvery temple have come from.
Lingaraja received Venkappayya and requested him to start daily poojas at the Talacauvery temple. The king setup an endowment to pay Venkappayya for his services at the temple. This was the beginning of the Achar family of Talacauvery. The priesthood bestowed by Lingaraja upon Venkappayya has passed on through many generations to his heirs. It is hereditary as most priesthoods are, and all male members of the family have the birthright to become priests at the temple. The current generation of Achar priests at the temple is the ninth from Venkappayya.
Venkappayya came from Shivalli Halli (village) of South Canara district. The Brahmins here were called Putturayas, probably meaning priests from Puttur. This Puttur is near Udupi. Venkappayya Putturaya's descendants are the Achars. The current Achars are the ninth generation from Venkappayya. It is not known why the descendants of Venkappayya took on the surname of Achar. Although Venkappayya came to Talacauvery with his two brothers, only Venkappayya's descendants are documented.
Talacauvery in Kodagu district is a holy place with pilgrims from all over the neighboring states visiting every year. Achar family members remain as the priests at the Cauvery temple in Talacauvery to this day.
Brahmagiri
Brahmagiri , ' is a mountain range in the Western Ghats of south India. It is situated on the border between Kodagu district in Karnataka state in the north and Wayanad district of Kerala state on the south . Brahmagiri Hill, at 1608 m height, is a scenic tourist attraction...
further South) near Bhagamandala in Kodagu district, Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, 1,276 m. above sea level. However, there is not a permanent visible flow from this place to the main rivercourse except during the rainy season.
A tank or kundike has been erected on a hillside, at the place that is said to be the origin. It is also marked by a small temple, and the area is frequented by pilgrims. The Kaveri River
Kaveri River
The Kaveri , also spelled Cauvery in English, is a large Indian river. The origin of the river is traditionally placed at Talakaveri, Kodagu in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, flows generally south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and across the southern Deccan plateau through the...
originates as a spring feeding this tank, which is considered to be a holy place to bathe on special days. The waters are then said to flow underground to emerge as the river some distance away. The temple has been renovated extensively by the state government recently[2007].
On Tulasankramana day (the first day of Tula Masa month, according to the Hindu calendar
Hindu calendar
The hindu calendar used in ancient times has undergone many changes in the process of regionalization, and today there are several regional Indian calendars, as well as an Indian national calendar. Nepali calendar, Bengali calendar, Malayalam calendar, Tamil calendar, Telugu calendar, Kannada...
, which normally falls in mid October) thousands of pilgrims flock to the river's birthplace to witness the rise of the fountainhead, when water gushes up from the spring at a predetermined moment. The tula snanam (Sacred bath in the Tula month) is observed across pilgrim towns in Kaveri's banks.
Talacauvery is about 8 km away from Bhagamandala
Bhagamandala
Bhagamandala is a pilgrimage place in Kodagu, Karnataka, in India. It is situated on the river Kaveri in its upstream stretches. At this place, the Kaveri is joined by two tributaries, the Kannike and the mythical Sujyoti river...
and 48 km from Madikeri.
Pilgrim center
The temple here is dedicated to Goddess Caveriamma. Other deities worshipped here are Lord Agastheeswara, which denotes the link between Cauvery and SageWise old man
The wise old man is an archetype as described by Carl Jung, as well as a classic literary figure, and may be seen as a stock character...
Agasthya
Agastya
Agastya was a Tamil/Vedic Siddhar or sage. Agastya and his clan are also generally credited with uncovering many mantras of the Rig Veda, the earliest and most revered Hindu scripture, in the sense of first having the mantras revealed in his mind by the Supreme Brahman...
and Maha Ganapathi.
The legend goes that, the Cauvery river was held in a Kamandalu
Kamandalu
Kamandalu or Kamandal or Kamandalam is an oblong water pot made of a dry gourd or coconut shell or metal or wood of Kamandalataru tree or from clay, usually with a handle and sometimes with a spout. Hindu ascetics or yogis often use it for storing drinking water...
(a container of sacred water) by Sage Agasthya. Vinaayaka (Lord Ganesha) took the form of a crow and perched on the kamandalu of Agasthya when Agasthya was meditating. When Agasthya realised this, he shooed away the crow. But the Divine Crow tipped the kamandalu and toppled it. Out poured Cauvery which started flowing. The crow disappeared and in its place stood a small boy. Agasthya thought that the boy was playing some prank and clenching both his fists, went to pound the head of the small boy. But the boy escaped and Agasthya gave chase. Finally the boy vanished and Lord Ganesha showed Himself to Agasthya. Agasthya was aghast at the realisation that he had just tried to knock the head of Ganesha Himself. As atonement, he knocked his own head with both of his clenched fists.
The link between Kaveri and Ganesha also extends to Srirangam
Srirangam
Srirangam , Old name is Vellithirumutha gramam and Tamil name is Thiruvarangam , is an island and a part of the city of Tiruchirapalli , in South India....
as well, in Lord Ganesha's role in setting up the Ranganatha temple there. The temple at Tirumukkudal Narasipura (confluence of Kabini (aka Kapila river, Kaveri and invisible Spatika Sarovara (Crystal Lake)) is also dedicated to Lord Agastheeswara.
History of the temple priests in Talacauvery
It is believed that Mayura Varma, the Kadamba King who ruled vast areas of southern and central India in the 4th Century A.D. brought Brahmins from Ahi Kshetra (or Ahichatra) and put them in-charge of various temples in Tulu Nadu. Ahi Kshetra is a mentioned in the Mahabharata as lying north of the Ganges, and as being the capital of Northern Panchala. It is apparently the Adisadra of Ptolemy, and its remains are visible near Ramnagar in Tahsil AonlaAonla
Aonla may mean:*Indian gooseberry is a deciduous tree of the Phyllanthaceae family*Aonla, Uttar Pradesh - a place in Uttar Pradesh, India*Aonla Aonla was a capital of Rohilkand...
in Bareilly district
Bareilly District
Bareilly district is one of the districts of Uttar Pradesh state in northern India. City of Bareilly is the district headquarters. The district consists of six tehsils. These are: Aonla, Baheri, City of Bareilly, Faridpur, Meerganj and Nawabganj. Bareilly district is a part of Bareilly Division....
.
The Brahmins who first landed in Shivalli in Tulunadu and then spread across 31 villages came to be known as Shivalli Brahmins or Tulu Brahmins. It is from Shivalli and Tulu Brahmins, that the priests of Talacauvery temple have come from.
Achar Family of Talacauvery
The beginning of the Achar family in Talacauvery starts ten generations or about 220 to 230 years ago. A Brahmin named Venkappayya and his two brothers, along with their families came to Talacauvery on a pilgrimage. Talacauvery in Kodagu district is the source of the Cauvery River. A small temple complex is situated at the source of the river. Lingaraja the First was the local ruler of Kodagu district. One night God appeared in Lingaraja's dream and indicated that there was a Brahmin family currently visiting Talacauvery. God commanded Lingaraja to appoint this Brahmin to be the priest at the Cauvery temple. After the king arose from his dream, he sent for this Brahmin family. The king's messengers found Venkappayya in Talacauvery and informed him about the king's desire. Venkappayya accompanied the king's messengers from Talacauvery to Madikeri, a distance of about 24 miles to meet the king.Lingaraja received Venkappayya and requested him to start daily poojas at the Talacauvery temple. The king setup an endowment to pay Venkappayya for his services at the temple. This was the beginning of the Achar family of Talacauvery. The priesthood bestowed by Lingaraja upon Venkappayya has passed on through many generations to his heirs. It is hereditary as most priesthoods are, and all male members of the family have the birthright to become priests at the temple. The current generation of Achar priests at the temple is the ninth from Venkappayya.
Venkappayya came from Shivalli Halli (village) of South Canara district. The Brahmins here were called Putturayas, probably meaning priests from Puttur. This Puttur is near Udupi. Venkappayya Putturaya's descendants are the Achars. The current Achars are the ninth generation from Venkappayya. It is not known why the descendants of Venkappayya took on the surname of Achar. Although Venkappayya came to Talacauvery with his two brothers, only Venkappayya's descendants are documented.
Talacauvery in Kodagu district is a holy place with pilgrims from all over the neighboring states visiting every year. Achar family members remain as the priests at the Cauvery temple in Talacauvery to this day.